A Faithful Narrative of Thomas Spatchet Under Witchcraft, Chapter 5
Chap. V. Of a Witch Confessing privat…y her … ▪ and …estimony offered before others, yet nothing done again… Her.
ABout the▪ Month October, or November, (If I mistake not) 1665. He informed me what here followeth in this Chapter. Abre Grinset, alias Thrower, (for she was a Bastard) did Confess to E. C. That She had been Instrumental to Afflict this man Mr. Spatche…, and many more. She Confessed but little as yet; and therefore some set a time apart to seek the Lord, that He would cause her to Confess more; and there was a manifest answer of Prayer; for the same day, when they were Praying▪ or that Evening, of Her own accord She said to those in the Ho…se, that She would not tell them all.
And then She Confessed, that She had made a league with the Devil, and was inticed to it by a Witch at a Wedding, that She had been a Witch above Twen…y Years; and She had Bewitched Iohn Collet of Cookly, and H…nry Winson of Walpool to Death; and She must see Iohn Collet before his Death, and by a wile did get a sight of him, calling at the House, said that there was the greatest Snake in the way that ever was seen, (which was not …o) they all run out to see it, and She in the interim went up to see him, and he Dyed two days after or thereabouts. Also She Confessed to them, that the Devil had drawn Blood of her, and that he did appear in the form of a Pretty handsom Young Man first, and spake to her … a hollow Solemn Voice, but She would not declare what he spake; and since Appeareth to he… in the form of a blackish Gray Cat or Kitling, that it sucketh of a Tett (which Searchers sin…e saw in the place She mentioned and hath drawn Blood.
After this, Mr. Spatche… spake with her, and did seriously and solemnly charge her as in the presence of God, that She would speak the Truth, that if She were not such a one, She should not own it, and if She were, then not to deny it, for God would bring it to light.
She answered, that She must Confess the Devil had beguilded her, and that She had been a Witch above 20 years, that She … made an agreement with the Devil, and She thought the time was nea… out; she declared also as before, how She became a Witch, and in what shape her Imp (which She imployed… appeared▪ to her, and such like.
He asked her whether She had imployed her Imp to him▪ and why She did it?
She Confessed that She had sent it to him and▪ said that She did bear him no Ill will, but it was against her Will, She could not help it, the Devil would let her be at no quiet till She had done it; adding, that he never did her hurt, but had been loving and kind to her, in giving her Money (for She was Poor) but She was the worse to him.
He speaking to her about his biting, in the aforementioned Kneading Fits; She s…id that he had bitten too hard sometimes▪
She said, if it were possible She would never send her Imp to him again, adding▪ O that I could not, it would be happy for you, and more Happy for me.
When She would have Confessed more to him, She was stoped in her Throat and could not, saying if She could tell all, there might be Mercy for her.
She also said, if She were to be Hanged presently She had no Hand in his Roaring Fits.
Some Women Searched her and found th… Tett She spake of, and her Body then Whole; but searching a second time a few Days after, her Body was well nigh all over as if scratched with briers and thorns▪ the like hath not been seen; & one that searched before …aw …his alteration▪ it is probable the Devil did much torment her after her Confession, for those that lived in the same House, heard a very great rumbling noise; also▪ She was gone diverse Nights and was seen▪ Wandring abroad in distant places.
She was also called before other Gentlemen, and some Credible …ers…ns offered to give Testimony of many things aforementioned, as of her free and Volunta… Confessing, that She had a Familiar Spirit, and that She had been the Death of some &c. Some Depositions were taken, but one standing up said,
☞That if she Bewitched …one but Spa…chet, and Ma…ing, and such as they are, She should never be Hanged by him.
And thus notwithstanding what could be witnessed against her, yet …he was …nt home and nothing in point of Law was done again…t Her▪
Nei…her can any excuse the matter by saying that in Distemper of body she knew not what she said, the contrary was clea… to those that conversed with her; and was also evident; for being asked a question, and the same question being put to her a considerable time after, she could answer as before; and therefore she well knew what she said.
Aft…r …his tim… …wo Gentlemen questioned with her▪ and she confessed to them the same things▪ the manner of her becoming a Witch and her hurting Mr. Spatchet, but was not so ready to confess her being the death of those men afore…mentioned, and grew hardned to deny some things before acknowledged.
It could not (one would think) but deeply affect this poor man, and procure much inward disquietment, to see that his case, and such a case should be so disregarded by men, but still he incouraged …imself in the Lord his God; and soon after (if not the next day) reading by course (for now he had liberty to read) that in Eccles. 5. v. 8. If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a Province marvel not at the matter, for he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they. Th…s did wonderfully relieve him, as to their actings, he had nothing to do against them, this was enough to him▪ he could say, thou …ord regardest it, though these men regard nothing of it, and his heart was wonderfully quieted herein.
Some excited him to s…ratch the Witch or such like, but he had no disposition to it, his heart was so tender that he durst not do it, though his fits continued; that Scripture helped him, Prov. 20.22. Say not thou, I will recompense …vil; but wa…t on the Lord and he shall save thee ▪ He was enabled to wait on the Lord for his Salvation; and that, Deut. 32. v. 35, 39, 41. It was enough to him that their foot shall slide in due time, and their …lamity maketh haste; if there be any such means of his affli…tion a… by Witch… ▪ yet vengeance was Gods, and he would recompense any that oppress or abuse his People.